Women re-enact South Africa march

[AlamoDemoc]

Thousands of women have recreated a historic march through South Africa's capital, Pretoria, 50 years after the landmark anti-apartheid event.

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Protesters are using the anniversary of one of the most influential demonstrations against the apartheid regime to highlight the problem.

On 9 August 1956 thousands of women assembled in Pretoria despite a ban on unauthorised gatherings, eventually coalescing in a 20,000-strong protest outside the Union Buildings, the seat of the South African government.

Many were arrested and prosecuted, but activists say it was the moment which brought women into the anti-apartheid struggle.

"Twenty-thousand women suddenly emerging in Pretoria - the heartland of what was then the National Party domain - was a tremendously exciting, inspirational thing," former speaker of the South African parliament Frene Ginwala, told the BBC.

Earlier this year, Mr Mbeki said a woman should succeed him when he retires in 2009.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/5258810.stm